The Tom Brady roast wasn’t for everyone.
Brady has expressed regret about participating, particularly because the soon-to-be NFL on Fox broadcaster didn’t anticipate the impact it would have on his family. And while others are sensitive to that premise, others others, like Julian Edelman, found the experience enjoyable.
Edelman, speaking exclusively with People Magazine, compared the atmosphere to a lighthearted locker room.
“I thought it was a fun night. Everyone had super thick skin and we all knew what we were there for, and that was to make fun of each other,” says Edelman.
“I mean, it felt very similar to a locker room — we just did it in front of people, which you would feel would be a little inappropriate, but it was fun. It felt like a big therapeutic session between everyone that was there if you know what I mean.”
But that sentiment isn’t shared by all of Brady’s teammates. In contrast, Wes Welker expressed disappointment with the Netflix roast, especially since he wasn’t even asked to participate.
“I was not asked to be a presenter,” Welker said. “I was asked to sit on the side and get roasted, which, I’m glad I wasn’t there. To each their own, I guess.”
To each their own is right.
The former Patriots receiver’s disappointment echoes similar disappointments that Brady’s ex-wife, Gisele, and the seven-time Super Bowl Champion himself have voiced. Gisele expressed concern over how she and her family were portrayed, and then Brady followed up by voicing similar displeasures, referring to his children while doing so.
While Edelman’s experience might differ from others—we’re not exactly sure how Rob Gronkowsi and Randy Moss felt—it underlines the importance of “thick skin” in a roast. And at the same time, the so-called locker room talk doesn’t always translate seamlessly to the public eye.
[People]